HEALTH authorities issued two guidelines last week in tandem to help COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms recover at home and to properly monitor their health with test kits.

Released by the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism, the country’s COVID-19 control task force, the guidelines allowed the majority of new COVID-19 patients to stay at home, except for those with serious heart, liver, lung and brain illnesses that necessitate hospitalization.

To reduce cross-infections, the rules recommended separate rooms for homebound patients, who are encouraged to take recommended drugs based on their symptoms, and report their body temperature regularly to neighborhood authorities. Tissues, surgical masks, single-use gloves, sanitizers and a trash can with a lid are listed among the necessities for them.

To terminate isolation after recovery, people need to test negative using an antigen test kit before contacting the neighborhood authorities for formal nucleic acid tests. The isolation wraps up after test results return negative for two consecutive days.

To address the problem, neighborhood authorities and grassroots clinics are tasked with keeping an eye on seniors who live alone, pregnant women or people who need blood dialysis, and advising them on medications and test kits.

Those suffering worsening breathing difficulties, persistent fever or other symptoms are allowed to leave isolation for treatment, preferably by calling for an ambulance or driving to hospitals. Public transportation should be avoided.

Neighborhood authorities are also obligated to help those with worsening conditions be hospitalized. Hospitals cannot use any excuse to refuse admitting such patients, the rules said.

(China Daily)